Not All Arrogance (A Gary Oak Love Story) Part 16~Scents, Shopping Sprees, Slot Machines... and Game freak?
Despite all the stuff that happened in Saffron, and the uncanny discovery of Ash's father, Amy, Gary and Duplica seemed to have decided mutually and silently to not talk about it. Instead, Duplica and Amy filled the silence with excited talk about an enormous shopping spree at the Celadon department store. Gary only spoke up to remind Amy that she was on a limited budget to which she replied that he wasn't. He didn't like where this was going but did not pursue the subject. Ditto seemed as excited as Duplica as per usual but Gabriel seemed only confused as they approached the giant department store, the biggest in the region. It had only taken them all about an hour to walk from Saffron to Celadon; they were so close to each other.
The group entered through the revolving doors, Amy resisting the insane temptation to run around and around in it, and were immediately hit by an army of saleswomen spraying them with about 20 kinds of perfume. Amy felt her eyes water and she started to cough. Gary held his shirt over his nose and squinted through the clouds of scented air. Gabriel and Ditto, below the smog of perfume, looked up in confusion. Duplica seemed delighted. She eagerly breathed in the mixed aromas and begged the women to let her try more. Amy felt nauseous and she scooped up Gabriel, grabbed Gary and both of them pushed Duplica far away from the perfume department.
"No wait! I want to buy some!" Duplica whined trying to get back to the display. Gary and Amy blinked.
"Not on your life," Gary said flatly.
"Why not?" Duplica demanded. Amy smiled warmly and put a hand on her shoulder, looking at her in the eyes.
"Don't take this the wrong way, I understand you feel that the perfume smells absolutely heavenly, however," she narrowed her eyes and her smile dropped. "If you wear it, I may throw up on you. Do you see where I'm coming from? I believe Gary will conquer."
Gary jolted. "What? Oh, uh, right."
Amy's eyes widened. "Gary, were you checking out the sales girls?"
"What? No way! You know I wouldn't give you up now..." Gary grinned bringing her into a one armed hug that she yanked away from.
"Yes alright, we have shopping to do!" she grinned at Duplica who flashed a thumbs up. Gabriel and Ditto looked up at their trainers.
"And we can find Pokémon clothes too, they'll be so cute!" Duplica said looked down at her Ditto, undoubtedly picturing the pink blob in a bow tie or something.
"Are you kidding? Pokémon aren't dress up dolls!" Gary interjected.
Amy shrugged."To each their own, let's go!" So, each girl grabbing one of Gary's arms, they dragged the poor teen into store after store. Gary got bored after the first 15 minutes and started complaining. Amy informed him that he could go to the electronics level and they'd meet him at the rooftop restaurant in an hour. Gary leapt at the idea and ran off.
"I'm surprised; I thought he'd hold out longer than this," Duplica said at his fast retreat.
"Well, he IS a guy, stereotypical as that is to say," Amy said with a shrug.
"So do you want to try on swimsuits now?"
"You know it!" They both went off giggling.
*****
A few minutes later, while Amy and Duplica were busily rooting through bathing suit tops and bottoms, mixing and matching, Gary had gone up to the electronics floor. Slasher had been at his side but he showed a strong interest in the cables for the computer at the sales desk, so he was returned. Gary had interested himself in the latest video games when he heard a couple of men talking in low voices. He glanced at a TV set and saw their reflections in the black glass. They kept glancing at him. He found that pretty weird and listened closer.
"So he has no idea we're watching him? That is so insane!"
"I know, but for god's sake be quiet! Do you want to join or not?"
"So I'd get to help with the creation of new Pokémon? And control these kids' adventures?"
"Yes, essentially."
"Then I'm in!"
"Excellent."
Gary frowned. They could be talking about some new video game he supposed, they do make them in Celadon. All the same, when they began to leave for the elevator Gary started following them. He got into the elevator straight after them, attempting to look inconspicuous but was met by even more awkward glances then before. They got off the next floor down and ran off so fast Gary hadn't a hope of keeping up with them. He tried to give chase anyway, but he was distracted by Amy and Duplica who he happened to crash into as he rounded a corner. Shopping bags went flying.
"Wha- Gary! What the heck?" Amy snapped, struggling to her feet and helping Duplica up. Gary looked at them sheepishly once he was on his feet as well.
"I was just- you know what? Never mind. Are you done?" Gary said with a sigh.
Duplica glanced at Amy who replied, "I guess so."
"How the hell are we going to carry all this around?" Gary grumbled.
"Oh, we're only keeping a couple outfits with us. The rest, and some of the clothes we have now, we're going to ship them home," Duplica said happily.
"Where DO you live anyway Duplica?" Amy asked raising an eyebrow.
Duplica looked surprised. "I never told you? Well, I'm actually a Johto native; I lived in Goldenrod, with my grandpa. But then Ditto and I heard where Lance's whereabouts were to be next, so we headed for Vermillion!"
"You came all this way to meet Lance?" Gary asked disbelievingly.
"Yup!"
"Oh my," Amy said massaging her temples, not believing this.
At Gary`s urging they left the mall and headed for the Pokémon center. They intended to ship the clothes home from there, Amy deciding it might be best to send them to Ash's mom rather than her father for now. Though Gary did feel annoyed that she wouldn't take his offer to send them to Prof. Oak's instead. Amy actually debated asking Delia Ketchum about Giovanni, but decided against it. She hadn't digested the information herself and it was a lot to impose on her best friend's mom. They were only about a block away from the center when Gary noticed the same two guys from earlier, now with a third member, in a nearby alley. He slowed down and looked straight at them. Amy glanced back in confusion.
"What's wrong?" she asked, slowing as well. Gary looked at her, then the alley, but the men had disappeared.
"I uh, nothing, I guess..."
Amy frowned. "It's not 'nothing'. Now tell me."
"What's going on?" Duplica asked, backtracking to them.
"I'll tell you at the center, you're going to have to drop your bags and we should check in anyway," Gary said, flushing slightly. He wasn't even sure he'd seen and heard what he thought he did. Odds were that it was nothing; there probably hadn't even been anyone in the alley.
*****
After checking into the center, Gary sat opposite Amy and Duplica in their room. He sighed and scratched his head before telling them everything, from seeing the men in the electronics department to what he thought he saw in the alley. Amy and Duplica glanced at each other.
"Gary... I hate to say it but you were probably imagining it," Amy sighed.
Duplica nodded. "You don't even really believe it yourself do you?"
Gary shook his head. "Not really. I guess I'm still just on edge with all the action going on or something. I don't know. So can we head for the gym now?"
"Okay, let's go!" Duplica said grinning and standing quickly. Amy got up a little slower, looking closely at Gary who was turned away. Despite what she had said she felt that something was up. Something concerning them. She hoped it wasn't in a bad way, since she planned to ignore it.
*****
About an hour and a half of wandering the city completely lost later, the crew found themselves at last in front of a giant greenhouse which apparently doubled as the Celadon City gym. They entered the gym doors and something unexpected and horrible happened.
More perfume girls.
"OH SWEET SUICUNE NOT AGAIN!" Amy and Gary cried together and fell to the ground. Duplica grinned and breathed deeply. Amy wondered if her sense of smell was dead or something. The scent clouds departed and the girl glared down.
"If you don't like perfume you can't be in the gym!" one girl with bright pink hair said angrily.
"You're welcome though; can I interest you in a free sample, and then show you the lovely selection we offer of different scents? We supply the Celadon Dept. store, but our best scents are only sold here. They do cost a bit more, but it's worth it!" a brown haired girl said smiling at Duplica.
"Oh wow!" Duplica said happily as she was led away.
"Hey, Duplica!" Amy yelled but suddenly found herself lifted up and tossed out the gym door, landing on top of Gary.
"Ow... get off!" Gary groaned pushing Amy away. Amy moaned and glanced at the gym doors.
"Wow. What capitalists," Amy said shaking her head.
"We have to get back in there!" Gary snapped getting to his feet. Amy followed him, scooping up Gabriel as she did so. He look dazed.
"Okay, I agree. So... want to sneak in the air vent?" Amy suggested. Gary blinked.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
Gary blinked again.
"What?"
"Well I thought you'd be afraid of getting dirty or something..."
"Are you kidding? Do I look like a Valley Girl?"
"Uh... no."
"Right, so let's go!"
"Cubone?" Gabriel questioned, confused.
"Oh, Gabriel, you're going to have to sit in the Pokeball for a little while," Amy said returning him. Amy and Gary looked at each other, smiled, and then went looking for an air vent grate.
*****
About 15 minutes later, Amy and Gary had succeeded in crawling through a dirty air vent, ending up very dusty and gross, but had still made it to Erika the gym leader's room. They told her that either she had to battle them for a badge or they were calling the Pokémon League board of directors. Faced with the fact that she was obligated to accept all challengers regardless of their perfume preferences, Erika agreed to battle them.
When they reached the gym battle field Duplica was already on the sidelines, arms laden with many bottles of perfume. Amy groaned, making a mental note to make her send them all to her house immediately or throw them all in the river. One or the other.
In any case, due to Erika's array of herbal remedies in addition to her perfume, she was able to use the same Pokémon to battle both Gary and Amy. A Weepinbell, Tangela, and a Gloom. Gary's Haunter may have been out of commission, but clearly Erika's Pokémon weren't that good, since she'd mostly only battled the small percentage of the population that likes perfume sprayed in their face unexpectedly. Socrates cleared Weepinbell and Tangela, but he needed to use Spoink's psychic powers to defeat Gloom. Amy had an easier time; Gabriel's Ice Beam cleared Erika easily. Especially since it was completely unexpected for her. So, Rainbow badges in hand, Gary and Amy left the greenhouse capitalist gym dragging Duplica and her Ditto with them to the Pokémon center.
*****
After Duplica shipped her perfume home, Gary and Amy's Pokémon were healed up and fed, and Gary and Amy themselves had showered away the vent dust, they decided to wander the city a little before going to bed for the night. They stopped in front of the Celadon City Game corner. Gary had stopped them actually.
"Those are them! Right THERE!" Gary said excitedly, pointing out the 3 men heading inside the Game corner.
"So, you want to follow them? Duplica asked, out of her perfume daze now.
"Yeah, but only if Amy wants to as well..." he grinned at her. She sighed. She WAS curious, and apparently he could tell.
"Oh fine," Amy sighed crossing her arms. They entered, passing the slot machines, trying to stay inconspicuous. They saw something odd then. Glancing around suspiciously, the men lifted a poster, pressed a button behind it, and a panel opened beside it. NO one noticed, consumed by the games everywhere and the flashing lights. They headed down the stairs on the other side of the panel. With a quick glance at each other, Amy, Gary and Duplica ran down the stairs just as the panel closed. It was dark, so they didn't notice. They waited until they were out of sight before following further, staying silent.
"Are they following?"
"Ssh!"
"Well they've heard us by now..."
'What?' Amy thought confused at the men's conversation. The lights flipped on the men appeared.
"Well you may as well join us NOW," one man with greying temples said glaring at a younger looking man who grinned nervously.
"Who the hell ARE you guys?" Gary demanded.
"We are Game freak," the third man with an interesting moustache said smiling.
Duplica blinked. "Who?" After Gary and Amy informed Duplica that Game Freak were the most famous video game designers in the world, the men led them down the stairs into what appeared to be a laboratory. There were men in lab coats all over. Several looked up and greeted Duplica, Amy and Gary by name, severely freaking them out.
"How do you know us? This doesn't look like a video game studio to me," Amy said, looking at the men closely.
The moustache man grinned. "You're right. Actually, we are the people who make the Pokemon, people and events in your world. We control, essentially, everything."
Gary blinked. "Really."
Amy smirked a little. "I see." Duplica just laughed.
"I see you don't believe me, well it's true. Actually, we come from an entirely different world from this. We create adventures for you here and then broadcast them to the other world. You are all just part of a cartoon show. Granted, a very popular one."
Duplica sobered. "You guys are... serious. Oh my god."
"So, we're on TV?" Gary said, eyes wide.
"Well, not right now. Right now, you're friend Ash and his friends are. He is actually the star of the television show."
"What, him?" Gary yelled.
"Ash? Really?" Duplica said confused.
"So... what are we? Supporting characters?" Amy asked.
"Well yes," the younger man said smiling, looking a little embarrassed. "But you are also the main characters of a fan fiction written by a shut-in girl living in a country called Canada in this other world, of which we are all part. It's on the internet, and has some loyal fans."
"So let me get this straight... we are characters in an internet fan fiction... of a TV show where Ash is the main character..." Amy said slowly.
"My head hurts," Gary groaned.
"So our adventures... are all pointless?" Duplica whispered.
"Oh no! They bring enjoyment to all you read about them!" the younger man said defensively.
"So what! We aren't running our own lives!" Gary shouted "That's not fair damn it!"
"Well anyway, you're here for a reason," the greying man said gruffly, "We are creating the new series of Pokémon and as we have done on several previous occasions, we have to alter the brain function of all the characters so they accept the sudden appearance of a whole new region filled with new Pokémon that was never mentioned before."
"But that's ridiculous!" Duplica said, stamping her foot.
"Sorry, but it's going to have to happen," the men said as scientists suddenly grabbed Amy, Duplica and Gary from behind. They struggled but were eventually brought to a machine where helmets were fitted over their eyes. "Don't worry, it'll all be over soon and you won't remember anything about us or your short tour here. We simply need to make a new series for Pokémon so that we can sell more cards and toys," the men said soothingly as Amy and her travel partners blacked out.
Her last thought was this: 'God is everyone in Celadon a capitalist?'
*****
Amy, Gary and Duplica woke up the next morning in the Pokémon center feeling refreshed. Amy had some fragments of an odd dream, but they left her soon. They three of them headed for the edge of Celadon after renting bicycles for the bike path to Fuchsia.
"God I can't wait to reach the Safari Zone," Gary said grinning.
"Me either, I hear they have Ditto there that transform in really weird ways!" Duplica said grinning.
"That's sounds like a mutation..." Gary said frowning.
"Anyway, I hear they have Pokémon from the Sinnoh region there! I've wanted a Luxray my whole life!" Amy smiled.
"Yeah I know, you never shut up about it in Pallet. I want a Hippodon myself. So let's go!" Gary said grinning, grabbing Amy's hand and before she could protest he was pulling her towards the bike path at a run. Duplica followed into the noon day sun.
((Joyful Note: You know seriously, for someone who has already finished writing this story I'm taking an awful long time with updates. Oh well, your frustration, not mine.))